The Most Spectacular Account of Sikh History - 'The Sikhs By Patwant Singh'

When he established the Sikh faith about five hundred years ago, Guru Nanak needed a more humane direction for a subcontinent wracked by the centuries of continuous warfare. Sikh faith grew out of the basic compassion of Hinduism and the essential brotherhood of Islam. But it became the target of the hatefulness of both Hindus and Muslims. Because it shunned intolerance of other faiths as also the caste system and idol worship. It insisted on treating all people as alike, and advocated total equality between men and women.

Patwant Singh narrates the stirring account of how a movement of serenity adjusted itself, of necessity, into a community that placed military beliefs along side spiritual, the Sikh fighter becoming the envy of every nation's army. How in 1699 the tenth and last Guru, Kalghidhar Guru Gobind Singh Ji, instituted thefellowship of the Khalsa in the vicinity of Anandpur; a change which would define each Sikh by a distinctive code of personal appearance, attire and manners. How Guru Gobind Singh's stimulating influence led to a succession of dramatic and audacious conquests after him, which planted the seeds of a Sikh State. How the enlightened ruler Ranjit Singh fulfilled that possibility by founding a Sikh empire.

The author's compelling account takes the reader through centuries of trials, triumphs and tribulations, until the present time.It appears to be the most detailed study of the origins and traditions and beliefs of an exceptional people. And the account is told with the exceptional skill and grasp of the subject.

Preface To The Great Book on Sikh History 'The Sikhs' By Patwant Singh

'Do you have any particular purpose for writing this book?' an associate asked me as I initiated work on it. I told him I had a compelling desire to narrate thestirring story of a people and a religion to which I belong myself, and which have been the source of deep-rooted awakening to me. Theentire account of the Sikhs, I felt needed telling, From the appearance of Sikh Faith just about 500 years ago up to the present time. It was vital, I felt, for people to know something of the circumstances in which Sikhism started and all that Sikhs have undergone since then: the attacks and inequisitions, celebrations and mishappenings, piety and perception of celestial purpose, devotion and depravities, loyalties and betrayls, courage and beliefs. I saw an absolute need to report all this. But why at this particular moment?

The reason for that being the arranged misleading campaign relating to current events crafted by succesive Indian administrations from the 1970's onwards really ought to be placed in perspective. Although the mandarins of modern India percipitated the most dangerous crisis the Republic has faced in the first fifty years of its existence, which was largely due to their short -sighted and unstatesmenlike moves with regard to Sikh sensibilities, the Sikhs were held responsible. The distortions need to be rectified. Since Sikhs now inhabit the farthest corners of the globe, a need also arises for people of those countries to know something of the history, traditions and beliefs of the new arrivals in their midst.

Liable as it is to religious chauvinism, Indian society should definetely conceive that it is an incomparably rich though fragile collage of cultures, creeds and customs. An realization of its own fragility is important if this society is not to remian intact. I am miserable to see little such realization at the present time. A country of huge size and wealth of human talent and natural resources is still bedevilled by religious and caste rivalries which continue in impede its progress and stability. Because of this reason alone, India's future will remain indefinite so long as its political leaderships keep promoting religious hatred and using caste divisions to control each other.

This book is written in the hope that those who rule India will be able to avoid past mistakes and select less self -antagonistic and more pragamatic policies in the future. Only then will they able to honour the social promise with Indians of every background and persuasion. There seems to be no other option open.

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